Flushing apparatus for closets.



PATBNTED SEPT. 8,1903,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

. G. HOFFMAN. PLUSHING APPARATUS FOR GLOSETS.

APPLICATION P114311) QQT. 23, 1902.

THE uonms PETERDCKL, vnorp'umcfl WASNING'TON. a. c.

v v I N0 IODBL.

PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

G. HOFFMAN.

FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR 'GLOSBTS.

APPLICATION FILED 0011.23, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

no MODEL.

I71 aw- UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE IIOFFMAN,.OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR bLdsETs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,446, dated September 8, 190?.

Application filed October 23, 1902. Serial No. 128,391. (No model.)

To all whom it may aortoarn:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HOFFMAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing'at Buf-J falo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flushing Apparatus for Closets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more especially to that class of flushing apparatus in which the supply of water to the flushing-tank is controlled by an automatic valve and in which the discharge of the water from the tank is controlled by means other than a siphon. V

Heretofore the supply-valve of the tank has generally been operated by a lever carrying a float; but this construction is unsatisfactory, among other reasons because the float-arm is liable to bind, renderingthe action of the valve uncertain and unreliable. The noise produced by the incoming water in a flushing apparatus of. the above construction is also objectionable.

One of the objects of my invention is to improve the construction of the supply-valve and its automatic controlling means with a View of rendering it noiseless and reliable in action.

Another object is to provide simple and noiseless means for effecting a prompt and full discharge of the water from the tank into the closet-bowl by a comparatively short stroke of the hand-lever or other controlling device of the flushing-valve and without the necessity of holding down the lever during the entire period of flushing.

The invention has the additional objects'to provide reliable means for preventing injury to the apparatus and leakage or spurting of the water through the vent of the tank in case the water-pressure should suddenly become excessive.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a closet embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the automatic supply-valve in line 2 2, Fig. 4;. Fig. 3 is a similar section of the vent-valve in line '3 3, Fig. 4, showing the emergency position of the valve. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of in line 6 6, Fig. 4. Fig. '7is a similar section of the operating devices of the flushing-valve in line 7 7, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 3, showing the position of the ventvalve while the tank is being filled. Fig.9 is a top plan View of a connected series of flushing-tanks controlled by a single supplyvalve,

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A indicates the closet-bowl, which may be of any ordinary construction, and B a closed flushing-tank supported on a shelf 18 above the rear portion of the bowl. The tank may .be of any suitable construction, but preferably has cast-iron heads B and a sheet-metal body riveted to flanges of the heads, as shown.

0 indicates the inlet or supply pipe of the flushing-tank,which is connected with the inlet branch (1 of a valve-chamber D. This chamber may be located at any suitable point in the supply-pipe, but is preferably seated in a pocket or recess D, formed in the upper head of the supply-tank, as shown in Fig. 4. The valve-chamber D is provided opppsite its inlet branch with an outlet branch cl, which is connected with a descending delivery-pipe (1 extending through the tight top of the tank and terminating near the bottom thereof. The inlet branch 61 is provided with a horizontal continuation diwhich extends radially into the valve-chamber and is turned downwardly at its inner end to form a horizontal e, guided in sockets e formed in the upper chamber and the upper head of the chamber.

G indicates a discharge tube or fitting secured to the bottom of the tank, and G a discharge or flushing pipe leading from said fitting to the usual inlet of the closet-bowl, as shown in Fig. 1. This fitting is provided at its upper end with a valve-seat g, to which an upwardly-opening flushing-valve g is applied. The stem 9 of this valve slides in a suitable guide 9 supported in the fitting, and is provided at its lower end with an enlargement or head 5 forming a stop which limits the upward movement of the valve. This stop-head is preferably provided on its upper side with a buffer 9 of rubber or other suitable material, to prevent noise by the striking of the head against the guide 9 The flushing-valve may be opened by any suitable means; but I prefer to employ for this purpose a horizontal rock-shaft H, arranged below the plane of the valve and provided within the flushing-pipe G with an arm h, which bears against the lower end of the valve-stem and outside said pipe with a hand-lever h for rocking the shaft. The latter is journaled in a hollow rearward extension h of the adjacent pipe-section, which section also partly incloses the rock-arm h. The flushing-valve is provided within the tank with a float I, which serves to fully open the valve as soon as the suction or adhesion between the latter and its seatis broken by raising the valve by means'of the hand-lever h.

In order to allow the air to escape from the tank as the water enters, a suitable vent is arranged in the top of the tank. This vent preferably consists of a cylindrical valvecase J, secured in an openingiu the upper head of the tank and divided into upper and lower chambers by a diaphragm j. A venttubej leads from the upper end of the lower chamber and extends through the cap 9' of an upward extension 7' of the valve case J. Within the lower chamber of the valve-case is arranged a vertically-sliding piston or float valve K, having, preferably, the form of an inverted cup and provided at its top with a packing-disk lo, adapted to close against the lower end of the vent-tube for preventing the escape of water through said tube. The valve-case J is provided a short distance below its diaphragm j with air-ports Z, which are uncovered in the depressed condition of the float-valve, as, shown in Fig. 8, so as to allow the air to escape through said ports into the valve-case and thence through the venttube. When the float-valve is raised by the rising of the water-level in the flushing-tank, it covers said ports, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, shutting off communication between the interior of the tank and the atmosphere and preventing the escape of the water from the tank. The float-valve is limited in its descent by a stop=rod Z, extending across the open lower portion of the valve-casing.

To prevent the water in the tank from being ejected through the vent-tube in case of a sudden increase in the water-pressure while said tube is open, a check-Valve m is arranged loosely in the vent tube, which valve is closed against the inner end of the dischargenipple m of the vent-tube by an abnormal pressure of the water. This check valve rests normally upon a stop m located within the vent-tube. In order to allow the air to pass around this check-valve when the ventvalve is open, the venttube is provided above and below said valve-stop with airports m m the air passing outward through the lower ports into the chamber around the vent-tube and thence returninginto the tube through the upper ports.

N indicates a waste-pipe leading from the upper portion of the vent-valve casing Jtoa branch 'I'L of the discharge-fitting G. In the event of a sudden rise in the water-pressure while the vent-valve K is open, the water forced into the vent-tubes passes through the ports m m of the latter and then descends through the waste-pipe N and the flushingpipe Ginto the closet-bowl. The vent-valve is preferably so constructed that it serves also as a relief-valve for the'water to prevent breakage of the flushing-tank and other parts of the apparatus in case a sudden and excessive rise in the water-pressure should occur from any cause. For this purpose an annular water space or passage 0 is formed around the base of the vent tube, which passage opens upwardly into the chamber containing the tube and communicates with the interior of the tank by water-ports 0. The waterpassage 0 is provided at its upper end with a valve-seat,against which closes an emergencyvalvep, carried by the vent-tube. The latter is capable of sliding endwise to a limited extent in the capj and diaphragmj for allowing the valve 19 to open and close the upper end of the water-passage 0. The vent-tube is yieldingly held in its normal depressed position by a spring 19, which surrounds the venttube between said cap and the upper side of the valve 19. This spring is so stiff as to keep the emergency-valve closed under a normal water-pressure, the vent-tube being practically fixed under such normal conditions. If, however, the pressure should become excessive,the float-valveK will not only close against the lower end of the vent-tube, but will overcome the resistance of the spring 19 and force the vent-tube upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, therebyopening the emergencyvalve. The water in the tanks now passes through the water-ports 0 and the annular passage 0 into the casing and thence through the waste-pipe N and'the flushing-pipe G into the closet-bowl, relieving the pressure and averting injury to the apparatus.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the flexible diaphragm f and the supply-valvee are both exposed to the pressure in the tank, and the diaphragm is larger in diameter than the valve. Owing to this differential area, when the vent'valve K is closed by the rising wa- ICC ter-level the pressure exerted against the diaphragm overcomes the pressure against the valve, thereby closing the latter and automatically shutting off the supply of water to the tank.

The operation of my improved fiushingapparatus is as follows: Assuming the flushingtank to be empty, the vent-valve K is in its lowermost position, in which it uncovers the air-ports Z and the lower end of the vent tube, as shown in Fig. 8. The water under pressure entering the inlet branch d of the controlling-valve D opens the supply-valve e i and passes thence through the discharge branch d and delivery-pipe d into the tank, the incoming water expelling the air through the air-ports Z and the vent-tube, as heretofore described. When the water rises to the level of the float-valve K, it lifts the latter to the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby covering the air-ports Z and closing the lower end of the vent-tube and preventing the escape of water from the tank. The pressure in the tank now raises the diaphragm f, causing it to close the supply-valve and shutting off the flow of water to the tank. When it is desired to flush the closet, the hand-lever h is raised. This movement lifts and releases the flushing-valve g from its seat, and as soon as this occurs its float I quickly rises and fully opens the valve, allowing the contents of the tank to flow into the closet-bowl and flushing the latter. The falling liquidlevel allows the float-valve K to descend by gravity and uncover the air-ports Z and the lower end of the vent-tube, venting the tank and permitting its entire contents to fiow into the closet. the fall of the water-level the diaphragm f is relieved from pressure, allowing the supply-valve to open for. again filling the tank,

and at the same time the flushing-valve descends upon its seat by gravity and prevents the escape of the water from the tank while the same is being refilled. In order to enable the float-valve g to be opened with comparatively little effort against the downward pressure upon the same, the transverse area of its float I should be as small as possible consistent with its required buoyancy. For this purpose the float is preferably elongated vertically and of comparatively small diameterin proportion to its length, as shown. The best results are obtained when the greatest diameter of the float-body is about the same as that of the discharge-tube G.

My improved construction of the automatic supply-valve and the flushing-valve renders the apparatus practically noiseless in action,

and none of the movable parts is liable to bind, and the apparatus is therefore reliable. in operation.

By arranging the supply-valve and its controlling devices and the waste-pipe N as shown these parts are compactly combined with thefiushing-tank and can be shipped and stored togetherready to be installed by By the venting of the tank and simply connecting the supply-pipe and the discharge-fitting G with the service-pipe and the closet.

Upon removing the cap of the valve-chamber D the diaphragm fcan be readily repaired or renewed. The entire valve-chamber can also be conveniently removed for making repairs by employing unions q q or equivalent joints between the supply-pipe and the service-pipe and between the discharge branch (1 of the valve-chamber and the delivery-pipe d By providing the flushing-tank with a ventvalve controlled by the changing water-level and a supply-valve controlled by a diaphragm or similar pressure-actuated device the tank while being properly vented is not subjected to the full pressure in the service-pipe, but is relieved from increasing pressure by the automatic shutting off of the water-supply immediately after the closure of the automatic vent-valve. This enables the tank to be safely made of correspondiugly-lighter material, rendering the apparatus less expensive and more convenient to install and also reducing the shipping charges.

Where a number of flushing tanks are usedas, for instance, in hotels and. officebuildings several tanks may be supplied from a common servicepipe R by individual inlet-pipes C C 0 and a single controllingvalve D like the valve D, be arranged in the pipe R, between the main service-pipe R and the first tank of the series, as shown in Fig.,9. This arrangement saves the cost of a separate controlling-valve for each tank.

I claim as my invention 1. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a closed tank having an outlet, avalvechamber provided with an outlet branch and an inlet branch having a downwardly-turned end terminating in a valve-seat, a valve arranged to close upwardly against said seat, and a flexible diaphragm arranged in said chamber and connected with said valve, said outlet branch connecting the portion of the valve-chamber below its diaphragm with the closed tank for exposing the lower side of the diaphragm to the pressure in the tank, sub-,

stantially as set forth.

2. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a closed tank having an outlet, a valvechamber provided with an outlet branch and an inlet branch terminating in a horizontal valve-seat, a valve arranged to close upwardly against said seat, a movable diaphragm arranged in said chamber and exposed. on its lower side to the pressure in the tank, and a yoke carrying said valve and connected with said diaphragm, substantially as set forth.

3. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a vent arranged at the top of the tank and comprising a casing opening into the tank and provided with a vent-port, a vent-tube arranged in said casing and communicating with the latter and the atmosphere, a check-valve arranged to close the outlet of the vent-tube ICC IIO

under an excessive water-pressure, and a float-valve arranged to close the inlet of the vent-tube and the vent-port of said casing, and a waste-pipe connected with said casing, substantially as set forth.

4. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a vent arranged at the top of the tank and comprising a casing opening into the tank and provided with a ventport, a vent-tube arranged in said casing and communicating with the latter and the atmosphere, a check-valve arranged in said vent-tube and adapted to close the outlet thereof under an excessive waterpressure, said tube being provided above and below said check-valve with ports which open into said casing, a floatvalve arranged to close the vent-port of the casing and the inlet of said vent-tube, and a water-pipe leading from the portion of saidcasing which contains the vent-tube, substantially as set forth.

5. In aflushing apparatus, the'oombination of a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a vent arranged at the top of the tank and comprising a casing having upper and lower chambers which communicate with the tank by air and water ports, a, movable venttube arranged in the upper chamber and communicating with the lower chamber and the atmosphere, said tube carrying an emergencyvalve which normally prevents the passage of water through said water-port, means for yieldingly holding said tube in its normal position, and aVent-valve controlling the passage of air through the air-port of the casing and said vent-tube, substantially as set forth.

6. In a flushing apparatus, the combination of a tank having an inlet and an outlet, a vent arranged at the top of the tank and comprising a casing having upper and lower chambers which communicate with the tank by air and Water ports, a movable vent-tube arranged -in the upper chamber and communicating with the lower chamber and the atmosphere, said tube carrying an emergency- Valve which normally prevents the passage of water through said water-port, means for yieldingly holding said tube in its normal position, a check-valve arranged in said tube, the latter having air-ports above and below said check-valve, a relief-pipe connected with the upper chamber of said casing, and a floatvalve arranged to close the inlet of said venttube and the air-port-of the casing, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 18th day of October, 1902.

GEORGE HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, WILLIAM R. MoOoNNELL. 

